Oshkosh plan panel approves outdoor storage area for switchgear site at Fernald and Progress Drive

The Oshkosh Plan Commission voted unanimously (8-0) Nov. 4 to approve a conditional use permit that will allow temporary outdoor storage of large electrical assemblies at a 7-acre industrial site at the southeast corner of West Fernald Avenue and Progress Drive.

City planning staff told the commission the property contains an industrial production facility identified in staff materials as "Avail switchgear." Staff said the applicant proposes a roughly 4,000-square-foot concrete pad south of the existing parking lot to hold assemblies awaiting pickup by trucks, and that the use would be compatible with surrounding industrial land uses. Staff recommended approval of the CUP with the findings listed in the staff report.

Clayton Emmons, who identified himself as a company representative, said the area would be used for temporary truck deliveries and short-term outdoor storage so finished switchgear would not sit on the asphalt parking lot and be damaged. "We just wish to use that area for outdoor storage, temporarily waiting for trucks to come pick up the switch gear before they're leaving," Emmons said.

Staff noted code requirements for outdoor storage screening and additional parking: an eight-foot solid screening wall is required where outdoor storage faces nonindustrial areas, and the code requires two additional parking spaces for the storage area. As part of the project the applicant proposes 16 parking spaces on the north end of the lot to meet the parking requirement.

A commission member briefly verified the applicant currently owns the property; Emmons confirmed ownership. No members of the public spoke during the hearing.

The commission moved to adopt the findings and recommendations in the staff report and approved the CUP on a roll-call vote of eight in favor, zero opposed. The roll call recorded the following votes as "Aye": Council member Bulow; Mr. Rucker; Ms. Davy; Mr. Lowenstein; Mr. Bowen; Ms. Propp; Mr. Pollack; Vice Chair Kiefer.

The staff report and the commission approval cover only the conditional use permit for the outdoor storage area; any additional changes to the site beyond the items described in staff materials would require further review or separate approvals.